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The first inn that Merrell finds is one named the Dancing Goat Tavern. When he first enters, it is a quiet place - barely another soul in there with him. He starts to drink heavily, with pretty much only the bartender for company.

Several hours and many drinks later, the inn has started to fill up. Still relatively early evening, the other patrons are far from drunk, and the innkeeper is starting to get concerned with the now pretty drunk mage. He attempts to take the nearly empty bottle away from Merrell, but Merrell grabs it and staggers away from the bar.

<Merrell aka Mike wrote>:
> "I'll kill them all!!!" he shouted waving the wand
> around as if he were wielding a sword. "The Zhents
> will all pay for what they have done!!!"

"Easy now mate, there's no Zhents here!" The barkeeper tries to calm Merrell down without success. Several of the other customers look a little worried, and a couple slip out of the door.

<Merrell aka Mike continued>:
> Anyone that came near him got the wand poked at them,
> "Stand back!!" he screamed defiantly, "I am Merrel the
> Magnificient, powerful wizard, I will burn you to a
> crisp if you touch me!!"

A few minutes later, and a figure appears in the doorway. The man gestures and mutters some words, and suddenly the bone wand files out of Merrell's hand and into the newcomer's hand. Merrell looks dumbly at his hand for a moment, confused as to where his wand has suddenly gone. He looks up at the man in the doorway, and a vague recollection of having seen him the day before comes to his befuddled mind before he collapses to a heap.

FUTURE
======

Merrell opens his eyes to what seems like a really bright light, but soon resolves itself into the dull light creeping in through a small barred window. He is lying down on what feels like a canvas bunk, surrounded by stone walls. As he moves to sit up, a wave of nausea sweeps across him and heavy drums start to beat in his head as bright flashes cross his eyes. Steadying himself against the wall, the room slowly comes back into focus, and the drums recede slightly, though his head still thumps.

"Ah, so you're awake!" a voice says, and Merrell looks up to see a man sat on a stone bench on the other side of the room. In his fingers is the bone wand. A wooden door on the wall opposite the window is the only other feature to the room.

The man shakes his head sadly. "I don't envy your head at the moment..." he says. Merrell frowns for a moment, then finally recognises the man as the same mage who had been with the Silver Knights that the group had met on their way towards Silverymoon. The man's face looks stern. "I realise you are grieving over your loss - but getting drunk and putting others in danger is not the best way to grieve..."

He stops twirling the bone wand in his fingers and smiles gently at Merrell. His voice softens. "We never got a chance to introduce ourselves properly..." he says. "I am Deklan, and, unless I am much mistaken, you are Merrell Greenwood." He passes the wand back towards Merrell. "I think this is yours?" he says kindly.

He pauses for a moment, glancing at the door. "Under the circumstances, charges are not being made... and you are free to go, though Lady Alustriel has, er, suggested, that I stay with you for a few days - just to make sure you are OK."

Again he pauses, almost as if he is embarrassed. "In the past, I too suffered loss. I can't say if this will work for you, but I coped with it by engrossing myself in my studies, trying to make myself a better mage..." He looks back at Merrell. "Lady Alustriel thought that might help you too... hence the reason you have been brought here to the Lady's College." As he stands, he grins. By the way, yesterday, whilst you were drinking, your friends helped with the investigation of that book you had... I think they'll be coming back today - shall we join them?"

<Merrell aka Mike wrote>:
> Merrell stood up slowly and walked to the wash basin
> and splashed water on his face. As he did he addressed
> the other mage again. "I am in need of a master at the
> moment. I was wondering if you would perchance have
> the time to tutor me for a while? I would of course
> pay you for your time with what means I have."

Deklan waves his hand dismissivly. "Forget it!" he says. "There is no need for money. We are in the Lady's College now, and we have that very interesting book from the Dragon Cultist's to look at..." He glances at the door. "Come, we can start early and catch up with the others who had a chance to study it yesterday."

<Merrell aka Mike wrote>:
> Merrell turned to face the other man. With a serious
> look on his face he asks. "Does the hurt ever go away?
> I mean engrossing myself in my studies is a way of
> life for me. But right now it feels as if someone
> ripped my heart from my chest."

Deklan steps closer and places his hand on Merrell's shoulder. "Do not let your fine mind become weighed down with grief. I am sure your friend Aran would have wanted you to be strong..."

Deklan leads Merrell out of the study cell and down several corridors, till he reaches a nearly empty classroom. In the middle, a man is poring over a book. He looks up as the two of them enter. "Ah, another early riser!" he says. "Do come in!"

Later in the morning, several other people join the class, including Blondung and Yvandel, who quietly update Merrell on the discussions from the evening before. Deklan works closely with Merrell, and he benefits from the one-on-one tuition. Too soon the day comes to a close, and Yvandel and Blondung look to Merrell to join them on their return to the inn.

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